Traveling bag



S. LACHER TRAVELING BAG Dec. 11, 1934.

Filed Jan. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZL INENTOR am ac BY 5 z/ e5 y ATTORNEY S. LACHER TRAVELING BAG Dec. ll, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1934 INVENTOR A52/mad [ac/7261;

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFIQE TRAVELING BAG Samuel Lacher, New York, N. Y., assignor to K. Kaufmann & Co., Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 3,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traveling bags, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a construction of frameless traveling bag having a novel form and arrangement of closure.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a traveling bag constructed and formed in such novel manner that a metallic bag-frame, usually employed to define the bag mouth, is not required, and consequently a bag of comparatively light weight is furnished, which is, nevertheless, strong and durable. Another object is to provide a bag having a novel construction of closure means broadly comprising overlapping top-'aps having interconnecting gussets between their ends, and specifically including an arrangement of end gusseted top-flaps, adapted to meet and telescope one into the other in mutually bracing relation, so as to both close the open mouth of the bag, and mutually reenforce each other in bag closing relation.

This invention has for a further object to provide not only a light-weight bag and one providing a maximum of packing capacity, but also to provide a bag of unique, neat and attractive appearance.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown: in the accompanying drawings, in

whichz Fig.` 1 is a top plan View of a traveling bag according to this invention, the same being shown in closed condition; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;` and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bag in open condition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken on line 4--4 in Fig. l;v Fig. 5 is a similar fragmentary cross-section, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan View of the bag closed, but with portions broken away to show the formation of gusset connectionsbetween the top naps; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference .are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

The bag body comprises a bottom Wall 10 and end walls 11 and side walls 12 suitably connected vwith and extending upwardly from said bottom wall 10; said end and side walls being likewise suitably connected with each other, as by the welt seams 13. Said end walls are preferably 1934, Serial No. 705,063

reenforced with stiffering material 14 (see Fig. 7), so as to render the same substantially rigid, being thus adapted to form and maintain the shape of the bag.

Extending upwardly from one side wall 12 of the bag body is a top closure flap 15, the same being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag body. In like manner, extending upwardly from the other side wall 12 of the bag body is a second top closure flap 16, the same being likewise of a width exceeding the width of the bag body. Preferably, although not necessarily, said top closure flaps 15 and 16 are formed as integral extensions of the respective side walls l2 from which they spring. Extending laterally between end margins of the opposed top closure flaps 15-16 at each end of the bag body are gusset members 17, the side margins of which are connected with the end margins of the top closure aps in any suitable manner, as e. g. by the welt seams 18. The bottom margins of said gusset members 17 are connected respectively with the top margins of the respective end walls in any suitable manner, as e. g. by the Welt seams 19. Said gusset members 17 comprise relatively soft or flexible bodies, and each gusset member is adapted to fold upon itself along diagonal lines of fold 20 (see Fig. 5), extending from the approximate central portion of its Lupper free edge to the points of juncture lat opposite sides of the bag body where the gusset members, side Walls and end walls of the latter meet. Adjacent to the lines of connection where the gusset members join the ends of the top closure flap 15, are formed somewhat inwardly inclined obliquely disposed transverse female folds 21, and adjacent to the lines of connection where the gusset members join the ends of the top closure flap 16, are formed similar somewhat inwardly inclined obliquely disposed transverse male folds 22. The female folds 21 are of larger dimensions than the male folds 22, whereby, when closing the bag, the latter may extend or telescope into the former, as will presently more fully appear.

Suitably secured to the marginal portion of the top closure flap 15 is a Vflexible tongue 23, the free end of which projects beyond the edge of said flap. rSecured to the free end of said tongue 23 is a catch member 24. suitably secured to the marginal portion of the top closure ap 16 is a latch casing 25, which contains any suitable arrangement of manipulatable latch or lock mechanism (not shown) to receive and engage the catch member 24, when the latter is inserted therein. Preferably said tongue 23 with its catch member 24 and said latch casing 25 are respectively located in connection with the central portions of said top closure flaps 15 and 16, and only one set thereof is employed. It will be obvious, however, that more than one set of the latching or locking devices may be employed if desired, and that in such case the same may be located at any convenient points in connection with the margins of the top clsure flaps. It will also be understood that the speciiic form and construction of the elements making up the latching or locking devices are subject to wide variation.

Suitably secured to the `exterior surfaces ofv the respective top closure flaps 15 and 16, inwardly of the margins of the latter, are handle members 26 of any desired form, which, when the top closure flaps are closed, cooperate toA provide a carrying handle for the bag body. It will be understood that the specific form of carrying handle described above and shown in the drawings may also be varied without departing from the scope of this invention.

Cooperative meansv are provided adjacent to the end portions of the top closure flaps for securing the same strongly together in their mutually interengaged bag closing relation. Such means may take various forms, but preferably comprise fastening straps 2'7 anchored to one top closure flap, asy e. g. the flap 15, and buckle devices 28 anchored to the other top closure flap, as e. g. the flap 16. When the top closure ilaps 15 and 16 are closed together in their mutually interengaged bag closing relation, the straps 27 or the one flap are engaged with corresponding buckles 28 of the other flap, thus securely holding the flaps against separation, gaping or other undesired relative displacement, under the weight oi" the bag and its content when the bag is carried by the handle means, while at the same time relieving the latching or locking devices from necessityfof alone supporting such stresses and strains.

When the closure aps 15-15? are released from the holding engagement of thestraps and buclles 274-28 and the latching or locking devices 23 2li-25, the bag may be opened by swinging upwardly the flaps 15 and 116. respectively to substantially vertical' planes coextensive with the side walls 12 of the body, whereupon the gusset members 1'7Y are unfolded and expanded to upstanding position between the ends oi said closure naps 15-16 (see Fig. 3). To close the bag the closure flaps 1'5-16 are swung downwardly and' toward each other, such movement causing the upper corner sections 17 of the gusset members to fold along the diagonal lines of fold' 20 inwardly and over the central portion or main body of said gusset members, so as to form thefiemale folds 2l` at the ends of ilap l5 and the male folds 22 at the ends of the flap 16. As the longitudinal margins of the flaps l5 and 16f movey toward and pass each other, that of the flap will pass under that of the ap l5, while at the same time the male fold 22 at the ends of the former will enter or telescope into the female foldsf21 at the ends of the latter. In this manner theiiaps 15i `vand 16 will not only overlap one relative to the other, but the folds 2l and 22 will mutually interengage, thus interlocking the ilaps 1'5-15 together in mutually reenforcing and supporting relation. When the flaps are thus closed, the strapsy and buckles 27-28 are engaged together and the latching devices likewise engaged to secure the flaps against withdrawing one from the other. It may here be pointed out that the connection or the gussets 17 with the ends of top flap 16 may terminate somewhat rearwardly of the lon gitudinal free edge of the latter, so as to eliminate the male folds 22 whereby only the corner portions of said top flapk l5v enter the female folds 23. It may also be pointed out that the top-flap and gusset connections therewith be directly overlapped upon the top-fiap 16 and its gusset connections, should it be desired to close the bag in such manner.

It will be obvious from an inspect-ion of the accompanying drawings and from the above detailed description that this invention provides a very neat and attractive hand bag having a novel closure structure which obviates necessity of metallic bag frames and like parts, and consequently provides a bag of comparatively light weight which is none-theless strong and durable.

As many changes could be made in the above described construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

l. In a traveling bag, the combination with a body having side and end walls, top closure flaps extending from said side walls, gusset members extending from said end walls and joined by their side margins with the ends of said top closure iiaps, and said top closure flaps each being oi a width exceeding one-half. the width of the bag top whereby one iiapV overlaps the other when closed together.

2. In a traveling bag, the combination with a bodyhaving side and' end walls, topl closure flaps extending from said side walls, gusset members extending fromy said end walls and joined by their side margins with the ends of said topclosure naps, and said top closureflaps being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag topwhereby one nap overlaps` the other when closed together, and the junctures of the ends' of the latter flap with sides ofv said gusset members telescopically interengagewithin the junctures of the ends of the former flap withl opposite sides or" `said gusset members.

3. In a traveling bag, the combination with a bag having side and endv walls, top closure flaps extending from said side walls, vgusset members extending from said end walls and joined by their side margins with the ends of said closure flaps, said closure flaps being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag top whereby one flap overlaps the other when closed together over the bag' top, the junctures of the ends of the latter ap with sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide `male folds, and the junctures of the ends ofthe former flap with opposite sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide female folds, whereby said male folds will extend telescopically into said female folds when said closure flaps are moved to bag closing relation.

4. In a traveling bag, the combination with a body having side and end walls, top closure flaps extending from said side walls, gusset members extending from saidv end walls and joined by their side margins with the ends of said closure naps, said closure iiaps being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag top whereby one flap overlaps the other when closed together over the bag top, the junctures of the ends ofr the inner ap with sides of said gusset member being arranged to provide inwardly inclined obliquely disposed transverse male folds, and the junctures of the ends of the outer fiap with opposite sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide inwardly inclined obliquely disposed transverse female folds, whereby said male folds will extend telescopically into said female folds when said closure flaps are moved to bag closing relation.

5. A traveling bag, comprisingv a body having side and end walls, top closure flaps extending from said side walls, gusset members extending from said end walls and joined by their side margins with the ends of said closure flaps, said closure naps being of a width exceeding onehalf the width of the bag top whereby one ap overlaps the other when closed together over the bag top, the junctures of the ends of the latter ap with the sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide male folds, the junctures of the ends of the former flap with opposite sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide female folds, whereby said male folds will'extend telescopically into said female folds when said closure flaps are moved to bag closing relation, and means to retain said closure flaps in bag closing relation.

6. In a traveling bag, the combination with a body having side walls and relatively rigid end walls, top closure flaps integral with and extending from said side walls, exible gusset members joined by their side margins with the end margins of said closure flaps to extend between opposed ends of the latter, means to secure the lower margins of said gusset members with the top margins of said end walls, said gusset members being adapted to fold upon themselves along diagonal lines extending respectively from the central portions of their upper free margins to the junctures of their lower corners with said end and respective side walls of the bag body, said closure fiaps being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag top whereby one flap overlaps the other when closed together over the bag top, the junctures of the ends of the former iiap with the sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide male folds, and the junctures of the ends of the former nap with opposite sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide female folds, whereby said male folds will extend telescopically into said female folds when said gusset members are collapsed by movement of said closure fiaps to bag closing relation.

7. In a traveling bag, the combination with a body having sidewalls and relatively rigid end walls, top closure flaps integral with and extending fromsaid side walls, flexible gusset members joined by their side margins with the end margins of said closure flaps to extend between opposed ends of the latter, means to secure the lower margins of said gusset members with the top margins of said end walls, said gusset members being adapted to fold upon themselves along diagonal lines extending respectively from the central portions of their upper free margins to the junctures of their lower corners with said end and respective side walls of the bag body, said closure aps being of a width exceeding one-half the width of the bag top whereby one flap overlaps the other when closed together over the bag top, the junctures of the ends of the former flap with the sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide male folds, the junctures of the ends of the former flap with opposite sides of said gusset members being arranged to provide female folds, whereby said male folds will extend telescopically into said female folds when said gusset members are collapsed by movement of said closure flaps to bag closing relation, and means to retain said closure flaps in bag closing relation.

SAMUEL LACHER. 

